The Breach / MCAP story.

Shortly after Breach’s founding in 2020, we began working with Justin J. Pearson and other residents of the disproportionately polluted communities in SW Memphis, Tennessee. They were in the process of forming the city’s first Black-led environmental justice organization, Memphis Community Against the Pipeline (MCAP - now Memphis Community Against Pollution). Breach supported MCAP and their community with legal advice, education, and communications strategy as they organized to fight the Byhalia Connection oil pipeline, which was set to pass right through their neighborhoods.

MCAP’s story is truly one of community triumph, as they went on to secure a victory against the Byhalia Connection pipeline after an incredible, community-led organizing effort. Breach has remained in partnership with MCAP and continues to support their work, including current fights against giants like Elon Musk’s xAI and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

In 2022, Justin Pearson ran for office and was elected to the Tennessee State House of Representatives, where he made headlines as one of three legislators who faced expulsion from the House for peacefully supporting youth in protest for gun legislation. Representative Pearson was indeed expelled but then reinstated a week later.

On Friday, September 27, Rep. Pearson will join us and other local activists and organizations in Portland to talk about how communities can come together to fight – and win – against fossil fuel corporations. We will hear about his campaign in Memphis, and from Oil Change International’s Allie Rosenbluth, Columbia Riverkeeper’s Kate Murphy, and Breach’s Nick Caleb about wins we have achieved here in the PNW. We will also learn about the fight against Zenith Energy currently underway in Portland and important action needed now to triumph against the Texas-based fossil fuel company.


We hope you’ll join us. This event is not to miss.